BELFORT: 6’0”, 205 pounds, 29, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, known as “The Phenom”

BACKGROUND: Vitor is a Carlson Gracie Sr. black belt. Belfort studied judo as a youth and began training jiu-jitsu at 13. He was a champion by 16. He is a four-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion and took third place in the 2001 Abu Dhabi Submission Fighting World Championships. Vitor has a professional MMA record of 13-7.

MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Stopped Tra Telligman (Pictures) and Scott Ferrozzo with strikes at UFC 12 to win the lightweight tournament. Finished David Abbott at UFC 13. Was stopped with strikes by Randy Couture (Pictures) at UFC 15. Steamrolled Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) with strikes at UFC Brazil. Lost a decision to Chuck Liddell (Pictures) at UFC 37.5. Stopped Marvin Eastman (Pictures) with strikes at UFC 43 and cut Randy Couture (Pictures) at UFC 46 to capture the UFC light heavyweight belt. However he lost the title when Couture stopped him at UFC 49. Belfort then lost a decision to Tito Ortiz (Pictures) at UFC 51 before knocking out Antony Rea (Pictures) at Cage Rage 14. Less than a month ago he lost a decision to Alistair Overeem (Pictures) at Strikeforce Revenge.

PFC EXPERIENCE: 4-2. Lost a decision to Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures) at PRIDE 5. Beat Gilbert Yvel (Pictures) by decision at PRIDE 9. Beat Heath Herring (Pictures) by decision at PRIDE 14. Was submitted by Alistair Overeem (Pictures) via guillotine choke at PRIDE Total Elimination 2005.

WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: Serious hand speed. Improved kicking ability. Overall better stand-up than ground. Can lose the fight before the walk through the tunnel. If you like to play head games with your opponent, Belfort is a frickin’ amusement park.

TAKAHASHI: 5’10”, 205 pounds, 37, Chiba, Japan

BACKGROUND: Japanese freestyle fighter and Fujiwara Gumi wrestler. Takahashi is an international amateur wrestling champion and the 1994 Towa Cup karate tournament winner. He was crowned the first Pancrase heavyweight champion and has a professional record of 28-19-3 in MMA.

MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Was submitted via heelhook by Ken Shamrock (Pictures) at a Pancrase show in 1993. He later lost a decision to Shamrock in ’96. Was stopped with strikes by Masakatsu Funaki at a Pancrase show in 1993. Bas Rutten (Pictures) finished him at a Pancrase show in 1994. Was knocked out by Jason Delucia (Pictures) in 1996. He was also submitted by Delucia a year later. Lost a decision to Vernon White (Pictures) at a Pancrase show in 1996 and was also knocked out by White later the same year. Beat Wallid Ismael by decision at UFC 12. Was stopped with strikes by Semmy Schilt (Pictures) at a Pancrase show in 1997. He was stopped again with strikes by Schilt in 1998. Schilt finished him a third time with strikes in 2000. Was submitted via triangle choke by Yuki Kondo (Pictures) at a Pancrase show in 1997. Submitted to a triangle choke from Sanae Kikuta (Pictures) in 2000. Beat Marcelo Tigre by disqualification at the Pancrase 2001 Anniversary show. Was submitted via triangle choke by Josh Barnett (Pictures) at the New Japan: Ultimate Crush show in 2003. Beat Kestutis Arbocius (Pictures) by decision at a Pancrase show in 2005.

PFC EXPERIENCE: 0-2. Was stopped with strikes by Heath Herring (Pictures) at PRIDE Total Elimination 2004. Was knocked out by Igor Vovchanchyn (Pictures) at PRIDE 29.

WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: Experience. He’s been fighting MMA since ’93. Predictability. He will usually lose to the better competition. He’s also been an automatic “W” on the records of many fighters over the past 13 years.

OVERALL OPINION OF MATCH-UP: It’s a joke. It reeks of Belfort’s handlers wanting a favorable match-up so he can get a “W” on his record and forget about the Overeem debacle. Takahashi? This bout would only be seriously entertaining if it had taken place back in ’97 after Yoshiki rearranged Wallid Ismail (Pictures)’s furniture in the Octagon. Belfort should move through Takahashi like a spoon through ice cream in the hands of Giant Silva. If he doesn’t take him out quickly and look good doing it, look for Vitor to face a parade of Japanese also-rans or make a permanent home in the UK promotions giving Brits a shot at a former legend. He is by no means done at 29 but keep in mind the psychological warfare Belfort must combat on a regular basis … in his own mind.